Shocking? Yes. Surprising? Maybe it shouldn’t be, considering that Mariano Rivera’s torn ACL continues an odd trend in the New York Yankees’ season thus far.

After all, the injury, sustained Thursday in Kansas City, is the third freakish setback suffered by a member of the team’s pitching staff, The New York Times noted.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera sustained an ACL injury before Thursday's game in Kansas City that will end his season and could end his career. (AP Photo)

The lineup of progressively serious, undeniably odd injuries to New York pitchers (maybe it’s something about the right leg):

On March 7, Dave Robertson, the man many are projecting to step in as Rivera’s replacement at closer, sprained his right foot when he tripped while moving boxes on the stairs at his spring-training home in Tampa. The Yankees originally feared the foot was broken, but X-rays were negative and Robertson returned within days.

On March 22, Joba Chamberlain dislocated his right ankle while jumping on a trampoline with his son. The right-hander underwent surgery and is not expected back before the All-Star break.

On Thursday, Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while shagging fly balls in the outfield during batting practice. He likely is done for the season and, at 42, may never pitch again.

“You have freak injuries, and this is one of them," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, according to The Times. "A guy carrying a box down the stairs we thought broke his foot. You can fall off a curb and get hurt. You have to allow him to be an athlete and a baseball player and to have fun out there. I’ve never seen Mo do anything recklessly. I’ve never seen him dive or try to rob a home run. It’s just one of the way he exercises, and it’s really unfortunate.”